Combined rail-brace and tie-plate.



J. W. STEPHENSON. COMBINED RAIL BRAGE AND TIE PLATE.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 7, 1909.

s E s s E N w w WWW J. .W. STEPHENSON. COMBINED RAIL BRAGE AND TIE PLATE.

APPLICATION rI'LsD 111:0. 7, 190a.

Patented Dec. 20, 1910. r- 1 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

and which is provided the usual spike holes 3 for securing it to the OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL MALLEABLE CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

JOHN W. STEPHENSON,

CASTINGS COMPANY, OF

COMBINED -BAIL-BRACE AND TIE-PLATE.

979,350, Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 20, 1910,

Application filed December 7, 1909. Serial No. 531,782.

[0 all whom it may concern: j two directions to fit the double inclination Be it known that I, J OHN 'W. STEPHEN SON, of the inner face of the projection 7.

of Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have inventi 13 is a bolt. which extends through the ed a new and useful Combined Rail-Brace j brace member and through the web or i and Tie-Plate, of whic i the following is a flange 8 at the opposite edge of the tie plate full, clear, and exact description, reference member, and which is secured by a nut 14. being had to the accompanying drawings, Any suitable or usual nut locking device forming part of this specification, in whichmay be provided to prevent this nut from working loose.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a combined The web or rail brace and tie plate embodying my invention and shown applied to a track rail; Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 111-411 of Fig. 2; Fig. l is a vertical section through the brace member; Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in horizontal section showing a modification; Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI- VI of Fig. 5; and Fig.7 is a vertical section through one of the brace members of Fig. 5.

My invention has relation to combined tie plates and rail braces for railway tracks; and is designed to provide a device of this character which is simple in its construction; which will hold the rail securely in a manner to prevent creeping thereof; which will provide a strong brace for the rail, and also an eflicient support for the head thereof;

with means for preventing the brace members from becoming loose in service.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to i, inclusive, the'numeral 2 designates a tie plate member provided with flange 8 is shown as being extended to the inner side of the projection 7 to receive the bolt 13, and also to form a tie between the inner side of said projection and the base portion of the plate. This tie function of the flange 8 is of great practical importance, since it prevents spreading of the projection 7 when the brace member is driven to its seat.

In applying the device to the rail, the brace member 9 is inserted between the rail and the project-ion 7 and is tightly driven to its seat, the transverse inclination of the inner face of the projection 7 causing it to become firmly wedged in position. The parts are preferably made of malleable castings, and the brace member can be very firmly wedged in' place by driving. The bolt 13 is then inserted and secured.

Should any looseness develop in service by reason of wear, the brace member can be driven to take a new bearing at any time.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 to 7 the upward projection 7 corresponding to the projection 7 of the form first described, is provided with a double transverse bevel on its inclined inner surface, as shown at 15 and 16 in Fig. 5. Two brace members 17 and 18 are employed, these brace members being inserted from opposite sides of the tie plate and driven toward each other upon the oppositely beveled faces 16 and 17. bolt 19 is then inserted through openings in both brace members, and is secured by a nut 20 which may also be provided, if desired, with any suitable nut-locking means. In this form of the invention, the two brace members hold against each other, since any tendency of one to work loose is resisted by the other member.

It will be noted that the form of the brace members in both forms of my invention is such as to cause them to form a very rigid brace for the rails; in fact, when these members are properly driven and secured, the entire device is practically a one-piece tie, and having near one edge an undercut lip or flange 4 adapted to engage one edge of the base flange 5 of the track rail 6. At the opposite side of the rail the member 2- is formed with the transversely extending upward projection 7 having the bracing ribs or webs 8. The projection 7 is inclined as shown, to give a beveled undercut inner face, and is also inclined to the vertical plane of the web of the rail.

9 designates a brace member, which is adapted to fit between the inner beveled or undercut face of the projection '7 and the rail. This member is shown as having a portion 10 which fits against the base of the rail, an upper portion 11 which fits underneath and forms a support for the top flange of the rail, and a portion 12 which seats between the outer edge of the rail and the inner face of the projection 7 The outer face of this portion 12 is inclined in structure. The braces also extend underneath practically the full width of the overhanging flange of the head of the rail so as to form a full support for the same. When the securing bolts are properly fastened, it makes it impossible for the brace members to work loose in service.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, while I have shown the brace members as of cored or hollow form to reduce their weight, it is obvious that solid braces may be employed if preferred, and that various other changes may be made in the form of the parts.

What I claim is:-

1. In a combined rail brace and tie plate, a tie plate member having a transversely extending upward projection at one side of the rail, said projection having an inner face which is inclined downwardly and outwardly and also transversely, and a brace member seated between the said projection and the rail and extending upwardly underneath the head of the rail, together with a securing bolt passing through the brace member and having a hearing at one end in said projection, the bolt-bearing portion ofsaid projection also forming a tie between the inner side of the projection at one end and the base por tion of the tie plate to of said projectionwhen the brace member is driven to its seat; substantially as de scribed.

2. In a combined rail brace and tie plate, a tie plate member in the form of a casting having a base portion to extend underneath the rail and formed at one side of the rail with an upwardly extending inclined projection, and a plurality of webs or ribs extending from the rear side .of said projection toward the adjacent end of the plate and reinforcing and bracing the projection, one of said webs or ribs being extended beyond the end of the projection to form a tie between the inner side thereof and the base of the plate; substantially as described.

3. In a rail brace, a seating member having an upward projection formed with an inner face inclined downwardly and outwardly or flange connecting the inner side of said projection at one end with the base portion of said member, said flange also having an opening therein for a securing device; sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

W. STEPHENSON.

JOHN VVit-nesses J. J. MANNING, MARK KUEHN.

prevent spreading 35 and also transversely, and a web- 

